It’s very odd in the garden right now. There are flowers blooming that should have bloomed weeks ago. There are trees that are meant to be covered in flowers that haven’t even begun to get busy yet. There are bulbs flowering at the correct time but they look awfully odd next to the flowers that should have been long gone by now. And then there are trees that are so desperate to get their leaves that they allow the blossom to stay for two or three days max before pushing it off as if to say “Come on, off you go. It’s not my fault your late, I’ve got a schedule to keep”

The magnificent flowering Magnolia bud at the top of this post is one of only three or four flowers that has burst to life on this tree so far this year. There are many other Magnolias in the area that are in full flower and I duly grumble about them when I drive past them. Robert the Husband says I have Magnolia envy and he is correct. In fairness my Magnolia is in quite an exposed position in the paddock so that and the delayed Spring may have something to do with its tardiness. But I’m watching it daily to see it in all its glory. I know in my heart that this tree was one of, if not THE BEST, investment I have ever made for my garden.

Now this is what I mean when I say that oddness is all around us.

Daffodils.

They should have been mulch by now but some of them are still yet to flower.

This variety are Pink Daffodils that I sourced from a nursery in Devon at the end of last Summer. I have to admit I was expecting something a little pinker and I think I would have been tempted to call them Peach Daffodils if I were selling them. I asked my sister to help me move the pink daffodils and she asked me what I meant by the pink ones. Mmmmmmmm, no, they really are not very pink at all really are they?

Ahhh, now here is something that’s sticking to the schedule. The tulips. The tall white tulips have been out for a couple of weeks now. You can read more about them here.

And read about how I planted them here!

And now the shorter pink ones have joined them.

When you’re planting your bulbs in the Autumn it really is worth thinking about height, colour and variety as before you know it they are popping up to say hello and you are suddenly presented with such pretty creativity that the work you put in all those months ago is very worth it.

In fact, when a bulb display works out it makes you braver and want to step right outside of your comfort zone and go crazy the next time you’re planting.

So who knows what I’ll be creating with bulbs when September rolls around again. It’s wide open folks, wide open!

This was the blossom tree mentioned. Seriously, the blossom had been on it for two days before the leaves began to bully it into submission.

Now when I look at the tree it would seem as if the blossom is but a mere memory and now residing on the ground.

The paddock is moving on apace. When planning this space I have opted for a cross between an traditional English cottage garden, harboring both flowers and vegetables, and the sort of garden that could best be described as sporting the ‘Hamptons Chic’ look. That is why all of the fencing, the arches and raised beds are being painted white.

My wonderful brother has dug a channel around all four edges of the area, inside the fence, so that when the time comes we can easily plant the huge volume of flowers that we have stacked up and ready to go in to the ground.

Of course the weather at this time of year is awfully deceptive. It’s gorgeous out there during the day but the temperature is still dipping to 2c at nighttime so the plants are queuing up right now and twiddling their plant thumbs.

Quite a funny site actually.

Plants are extremely dexterous.

Here are some of those thumb twiddling plants. Sitting, waiting and growing in the propagator.

They reside in here overnight and then come out during the day.

And before we know it, they’ll be in the ground and doing what they were born to do. FLOWER!!!

I caught an episode of The Darling Buds of May yesterday. Now I happen to be well and truly OVER the recent ‘looking back to the past’ renaissance that is still taking place in many books, magazines, shops, television programs and fabric prints.

I’m more interested in focusing on what an amazing time I happen to be living in RIGHT NOW. My kids haven’t even been born yet and I don’t want to be stuck in a bygone era. But, having said all that, the episode of ‘Buds’ that I caught yesterday was so good for my soul. I wasn’t looking at the decor (for once) but loving watching The Larkin family go about their business in the hot and heady Summer months in Kent.

It made me very excited about this summer and a secret future project that is being worked on here at the house.

OK Meatballs, time to get a wriggle on it. Mummy needs her body back!!!!!

Cx

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Cherry Menlove

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1. A Sunny Garden Update

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